Is Public Speaking all Greek to You?

Convincing people to act has been a problem that has plagued humanity from the very beginning. Why go and expend our limited amounts of energy when laying in the grass under the sun just feels so good??Changing the world with a big idea usually requires more than a single individual, so how can we get those chilled-out sunbathers to jump up and join our cause?

Luckily, cultures have been pondering this conundrum for millennia. In our Western tradition,?the solution comes from the Ancient Greeks: the Art of Rhetoric?or using persuasive speech to move your audience to action.

For the Greeks, rhetoric consisted of three main tools:

1. LOGOS?or argument by logic
2. ETHOS?or argument by character
3. PATHOS?or argument by emotion

Using just one of these tools can help you persuade someone to act but?the Greeks encouraged the use of all three?and even suggested you put them in a particular order to up your chances of success.

So where do we start?

The first step in any speech is to convince your audience that you’re worth listening to,?this means beginning with?ETHOS.?Show them that you share their values, that you have experience connected to what you’re talking about, or that you are an impartial judge that cares more about the audience’s interests than your own.

Next, it’s time to break out the?LOGOS?or logic.?Here you can use facts, definitions, examples, or even a story. But watch out for any?logical fallacies! They could leave your audience confused or wary of your argument.

Finally, you’ll want to end with a bang! Use?PATHOS?to move your audience to act.?Focus on eliciting emotions such as joy, love, esteem, and excitement. They are much more likely to lead to action than sorrow, shame, or humility which often cause self-reflection and inaction. And remember: when you argue emotionally, speak simply. Short, direct words will cut straight to your audience’s hearts.

So keep these 3 things in mind for your next speech:?make them trust you, give them the facts, and move them to act.?You may not speak Greek, but you’ll sure speak like an Ancient one.